Prince Andrew is underfire after spending £3,000 on a helicopter flight from London to Norfolk when he could have gone by train

December 11, 2016 by Royal Fans

Air Miles Andy is at it again! Duke of York takes £3,000 helicopter flight on royal visit (even though he’ll be just SEVEN miles away from the venue over Christmas)
The Duke of York, dubbed ‘Air Miles Andy’, splashed out on the journey
He travelled to a construction site in Bircham Newton, Norfolk on Thursday
Prince Andrew could have used a train for £34.60 from London to Kings Lynn

Prince Andrew is underfire after spending £3,000 on a helicopter flight from London to Norfolk when he could have gone by train.

The Duke of York, dubbed ‘Air Miles Andy’, splashed out on the journey to a construction site in Bircham Newton on Thursday.

He is due to be in Sandringham, the Queen’s Christmas residence, in two weeks’ time.

The sixth-in-line to the throne could have used a train to get from Kings Cross to Kings Lynn for just £34.60. And only £33 would have been needed for a trip in a chauffeur-driven car to the north Norfolk location.

The Queen’s Flight is available for other members of the royal family to use but the Queen only travels to Sandringham every Christmas via train.

It is funded by the Sovereign Grant, taxpayers’ money given to the Queen through income made on royal land and property.

The helicopter could be seen taking off from Buckingham Palace at around 2pm on Thursday.

Prince Andrew was taken around the Bircham Newton site run by Constructionarium and was ‘clearly interested’ in its expansion, according to boss Robin Holdsworth.

The 56-year-old royal was dressed in wellington boots and a high visibility jacket for the tour.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman told the Express: ‘From time to time the Duke of York, like other members of the Royal Family, uses a helicopter to travel to official engagements. The Duke has also used public transport in the past.’

Andrew’s fondness for traveling by air has seen him visit six countries, including China and Estonia since April, even though he stepped down as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment in 2011.

The spokesman said the Duke’s role meant he had to represent the Queen at international engagements.

The Court Circular, which records the Royal Family’s activities, notes that the Duke also used a helicopter to visit the production set of Journey’s End in Cardiff on December 2, which cost another £3,000.

A train from London to Cardiff would have cost just £43.

On Friday, Prince Andrew released a statement denying there is a rift between him and the Prince of Wales.

This comes after Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were at the centre of a royal battle because their father reportedly raised fears any children they have could be classed as ‘commoners’.

However in an impassioned letter, the Duke of York vehemently denied a family feud and said it was a ‘complete fabrication’ to suggest he had demanded future husbands of his daughters be given titles.